I saw that article too, but if you look at the screenshot showing the computer properties page, it shows "Computer name, domain and workgroup settings" as a header. Unfortunately it doesn't show down far enough to see if the lines for domain/workgroup exist....but I figured since it said "domain and workgroup settings" that it might be included.

Gotcha. That is a cool looking little computer but without domain join it won't work out for us. I'm assuming I could install an OS over it but that would bring the cost up to the level of small PCs that already have Win 7 Pro installed.

Lots of threads about the need to upgrade the windows install to pro to join a domain, but nothing "official" listed that i could find easily.

?!

That's one of the largest benefits of any "Pro" version of a Windows desktop OS. "Home" versions - including Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 with Bing - can connect to domain resources (just as Home versions have always been able to do), but they cannot be joined to the domain for central management.

Side Note: Microsoft dropped the "Home" designation from Windows 8.x. If it doesn't explicitly say "Pro" or "Enterprise", you're dealing with the consumer version. Many sites will refer to this as "Windows 8.x Core".

That is pretty conclusive to me, given the other information I've seen about this OS.

It's weird how the Optiplex Micro is extremely tiny and comes with Windows 7 Professional but something like this is kind of crippled by it's OS from the starting gate. They are pretty similar in size but I guess the Inspiron Micro is supposed to be a "TV computer."

We have a few Windows 8.1 with Bing systems around here, and they will not join a domain. For our purpose they don't need to. If you purchase a Windows 8.1 with Bing system and need to join a domain in the future, you would have to purchase the Pro Pack for about $100.

You'll need to apply the Propack ($99) prior to this. Otherwise it works great. I have used it on a few $60 and $140 tablets from Microcenter.

This answer is misleading. Windows 8.1 with Bing will not join a domain. If you upgrade it to Pro with the Pro Pack then it will. However, the OP asked if Windows 8.1 with Bing itself will join a domain, and it will not.

You'll need to apply the Propack ($99) prior to this. Otherwise it works great. I have used it on a few $60 and $140 tablets from Microcenter.

This answer is misleading. Windows 8.1 with Bing will not join a domain. If you upgrade it to Pro with the Pro Pack then it will. However, the OP asked if Windows 8.1 with Bing itself will join a domain, and it will not.